"What really sets this apart from anything else out there right now is that it is built completely in HTML 5, and it is designed for touch. The web app works really well on mobile devices, and it is the first of its kind to provide a complete shopping and reading experience in-browser on tablets," iVerse CEO Michael Murphey told ComicsAlliance.

"That's important because it maximizes compatibility, and gives the readers more choices on how they make their purchases, and view their content, than they've had before."

Users who downloaded Archie titles through the previous digital storefront will still be able to access their purchases through the new service.

Archie CEO Jon Goldwater added: "This is what we've been building toward since Archie first dove into digital - well in advance of other comic companies. This is your one-stop shop for all things Archie Digital, be they Android, iOS, anything.

"Now, from your desktop or mobile, you can shop for Archie and know it'll sync with your devices. Our hats go off to Michael and his staff for labouring on this. It looks beautiful."

Archie was among the first publishers to adopt the day-and-date digital model, switching to the system on April 1 last year. It was also one of the first to launch a standalone app, which has now seen more than 2 million downloads.